Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Visiting Megan
For the past few years, Megan and I have always managed to get together when I visit my parents so we can catch up on each others’ lives and see how our kids are growing. Isn't that what best friends are supposed to do?As always, MacKenzie and Lauren picked up right where they left off the previous year. This year they discovered they share a common interest in playing Webkinz and other girly-type web games.
Below are our younger kiddos: Jacob, Bridget and Benjamin during a short break in all their running around. They definitely weren’t this sedate for very long!
MacKenzie and Lauren both seem to be little hams for the camera. They came up with quite a variety of poses so we could take their photos.The group shot below is the only one with Zachary. He was a good sport, but seemed to feel a little out of place since none of the other kids were near his age. Fortunately, he brought a book with him and found a (somewhat) quiet corner to sit and read. He had good incentive since the last installment of the Harry Potter series was only a few days from release, and he wanted to finish his current book before delving into the Deathly Hallows. From left: Jacob (5), Zachary (11½ ), Bridget (2), MacKenzie (9), Lauren (9) and Benjamin (4).
Here’s another pose that the girls selected. Bridget wasn’t about to be left out of the girls shot!And, the traditional shot of me and Megan…almost 23 years after we met and ruled our neighborhood (at least we thought we did)!
Labels: Benjamin, MacKenzie, Stateside visits, Zachary
Monday, July 30, 2007
Lewes Beach
We didn’t go to the beach last summer, so we definitely felt the need to go this summer. Lewes Beach is about an hour south of Dover, and, since it’s an inlet, the waves are very mild -- a great feature for the kids (although I distinctly remember jumping high to stay above the waves at Cocoa Beach in my youth -- what fun!).
MacKenzie doesn’t look very thrilled in the photo above, but I think it was just because I made her pose for the photo, which took time away from her other beach endeavors.
Benjamin had fun playing with the water. He and Papa made a small pond (not really a moat since it didn’t surround a sand castle), and he toted more buckets of water than I could count.
Dad wasn’t able to join us in 2005, so he wasn’t going to be left behind this time. I think the kids really enjoyed having him with us this time too (notice MacKenzie’s smile).
Benjamin was definitely Papa’s little shadow. He didn’t seem scared about heading out into chest-deep water, as long as someone was there with him. He didn’t even insist that I hold onto him when I was out there with him…although I did for my own peace of mind. He really enjoyed holding onto Papa and climbing up his legs. His monkey traits even came through in the water! What a kid!
MacKenzie definitely prefers the shallower water, and didn’t venture out very far without someone by her side. As always, she was content to play and dig on the shore.
Benjamin’s room at Nana and Papa’s house has a beach theme, and includes photos of Zachary and MacKenzie from previous beach trips. MacKenzie’s photo shows her sitting in a deep hole in the sand, while Zachary is buried up to his chest in his photo. Benjamin is very observant, and noticed that there wasn’t a beach photo of him in the collection...and he knew he wanted a photo of himself buried at the beach, and made sure we knew when he was ready to be buried for his photo.
When we dug the hole for him to sit in, he promptly put his feet in the hole (rather than sitting completely in the hole) so we could only cover his legs. He was tickled nonetheless, and giggled when his feet peaked through the sand. He loved it!
He definitely stayed busy at the beach. He was never at a loss for things to do...from wading back out into the water to searching for rocks (they were so pretty and smooth). He was perfectly content exploring everything the ocean water had to offer.
After a while, he even got up the courage to kick the waves as they broke over his feet. I love the look of concentration (and tongue sticking out) as he makes a big splash!
This photo is classic -- it shows all three of the kids doing what they seemed to enjoy most: MacKenzie digging a hole, Benjamin dumping water, and Zachary buried up to his neck in sand!
Zachary was actually buried twice. The first time was pretty benign, but Nana and Papa had fun with a little creative license the second time around. At first, Zachary was a nicely-figured mermaid, then Nana quickly decided to make him into a merman with a well-defined set of six-pack abs. At least he was a good sport about it and even smiled for the camera.
He cringed when Papa poured water on him to wash away the sand, but seemed to enjoy the gradual unearthing.
Benjamin even displayed his rock collection on Zachary's abdomen -- more artistic license.
When it was time to pack up and head back home, Benjamin decided he needed to water the sand. He even ran back to the water twice for refills. Too cute!
When we rinsed off in the bathroom before heading back to the car, we realized we didn’t have Benjamin's change of clothes with us. Fortunately, MacKenzie had hers so she let him wear her cover-up. He commented that people would not know if he was a boy or girl while wearing it, but also decided that he wanted to wear it during the ride home. I figured it wasn’t a battle worth fighting, so off we went.
When we got home, he still wanted to wear the “dress” a while longer. After a few minutes looking like a Jedi knight playing with his remote-controlled car, he finally decided he was ready for his clothes again. Whew! He did look cute though!
MacKenzie doesn’t look very thrilled in the photo above, but I think it was just because I made her pose for the photo, which took time away from her other beach endeavors.
Benjamin had fun playing with the water. He and Papa made a small pond (not really a moat since it didn’t surround a sand castle), and he toted more buckets of water than I could count.Dad wasn’t able to join us in 2005, so he wasn’t going to be left behind this time. I think the kids really enjoyed having him with us this time too (notice MacKenzie’s smile).
Benjamin was definitely Papa’s little shadow. He didn’t seem scared about heading out into chest-deep water, as long as someone was there with him. He didn’t even insist that I hold onto him when I was out there with him…although I did for my own peace of mind. He really enjoyed holding onto Papa and climbing up his legs. His monkey traits even came through in the water! What a kid!
MacKenzie definitely prefers the shallower water, and didn’t venture out very far without someone by her side. As always, she was content to play and dig on the shore.
Benjamin’s room at Nana and Papa’s house has a beach theme, and includes photos of Zachary and MacKenzie from previous beach trips. MacKenzie’s photo shows her sitting in a deep hole in the sand, while Zachary is buried up to his chest in his photo. Benjamin is very observant, and noticed that there wasn’t a beach photo of him in the collection...and he knew he wanted a photo of himself buried at the beach, and made sure we knew when he was ready to be buried for his photo.When we dug the hole for him to sit in, he promptly put his feet in the hole (rather than sitting completely in the hole) so we could only cover his legs. He was tickled nonetheless, and giggled when his feet peaked through the sand. He loved it!
He definitely stayed busy at the beach. He was never at a loss for things to do...from wading back out into the water to searching for rocks (they were so pretty and smooth). He was perfectly content exploring everything the ocean water had to offer.
After a while, he even got up the courage to kick the waves as they broke over his feet. I love the look of concentration (and tongue sticking out) as he makes a big splash!
This photo is classic -- it shows all three of the kids doing what they seemed to enjoy most: MacKenzie digging a hole, Benjamin dumping water, and Zachary buried up to his neck in sand!
Zachary was actually buried twice. The first time was pretty benign, but Nana and Papa had fun with a little creative license the second time around. At first, Zachary was a nicely-figured mermaid, then Nana quickly decided to make him into a merman with a well-defined set of six-pack abs. At least he was a good sport about it and even smiled for the camera.He cringed when Papa poured water on him to wash away the sand, but seemed to enjoy the gradual unearthing.
Benjamin even displayed his rock collection on Zachary's abdomen -- more artistic license.
When it was time to pack up and head back home, Benjamin decided he needed to water the sand. He even ran back to the water twice for refills. Too cute!When we rinsed off in the bathroom before heading back to the car, we realized we didn’t have Benjamin's change of clothes with us. Fortunately, MacKenzie had hers so she let him wear her cover-up. He commented that people would not know if he was a boy or girl while wearing it, but also decided that he wanted to wear it during the ride home. I figured it wasn’t a battle worth fighting, so off we went.
When we got home, he still wanted to wear the “dress” a while longer. After a few minutes looking like a Jedi knight playing with his remote-controlled car, he finally decided he was ready for his clothes again. Whew! He did look cute though!
Labels: Benjamin, MacKenzie, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits, Zachary
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Birthday Boy!
It’s hard to believe that Benjamin is now four years old! My how he’s grown and turned into such a little man. Even so, he’s still very much Mama’s boy, and will always be my little boy.
We didn’t want to be on the road on his birthday, so we left Blackshear the day before and drove straight through to Delaware. It made for a long day, but all the kids were great travelers. Benjamin, in true fashion, talked nonstop for the first two hours we were on the road. His mouth was like the Energizer Bunny! Even Mom was surprised, and would occasionally turn around and look at me as if asking if he would ever stop. I suppose he’s making up for lost time since he didn’t really start talking until he was three (when he started speech therapy).
We decided to take him out to dinner somewhere where the staff would sing to him. We all wanted to eat at Olive Garden while in the states, so that’s where we went. However, Benjamin missed his afternoon nap and fell asleep as we pulled into the parking lot and didn’t wake up when I took him out of his car seat and carried him into the restaurant. I figured I’d let him sleep in my lap until the food came, and even managed to eat my salad and breadsticks before he awoke.
We ordered a single pizza for him and Zachary to share, but when it came he wasn’t very interested in eating it. Before he could take his first bite (he slept longer than we expected), our waitress brought out his birthday cake and set it in front of him while leading the staff in song. He liked the attention and blowing out the candle. Not a bad way to awake from a nap!
However, we told him that no one could eat any cake until he ate one slice of pizza. He balked at that idea -- yes, he’s stubborn -- and crawled under his chair to get away from the pizza. So, the cake came home with us -- uneaten.
When we arrived home, he was in a better mood, especially when he was allowed to open presents. I had purchased a few items for him in Germany that I intended to bring with us, but I hid them so well that I forgot to pack them. Oops. So, I had to make an extra shopping trip for a few items, and fortunately found some that were perfectly-suited for him. Guess that means I’ve got a jump on his Christmas presents!
After he ate something “healthy” (fruit) for supper, MacKenzie lit the candles on his other birthday cake and we sang to him again. This time, he didn’t hide under any chairs, and opted to eat the cake after blowing out the candles. Since we had two cakes to choose from, everyone got what they wanted -- chocolate or vanilla. What a great day for a wonderful boy!
We didn’t want to be on the road on his birthday, so we left Blackshear the day before and drove straight through to Delaware. It made for a long day, but all the kids were great travelers. Benjamin, in true fashion, talked nonstop for the first two hours we were on the road. His mouth was like the Energizer Bunny! Even Mom was surprised, and would occasionally turn around and look at me as if asking if he would ever stop. I suppose he’s making up for lost time since he didn’t really start talking until he was three (when he started speech therapy).We decided to take him out to dinner somewhere where the staff would sing to him. We all wanted to eat at Olive Garden while in the states, so that’s where we went. However, Benjamin missed his afternoon nap and fell asleep as we pulled into the parking lot and didn’t wake up when I took him out of his car seat and carried him into the restaurant. I figured I’d let him sleep in my lap until the food came, and even managed to eat my salad and breadsticks before he awoke.
We ordered a single pizza for him and Zachary to share, but when it came he wasn’t very interested in eating it. Before he could take his first bite (he slept longer than we expected), our waitress brought out his birthday cake and set it in front of him while leading the staff in song. He liked the attention and blowing out the candle. Not a bad way to awake from a nap!
However, we told him that no one could eat any cake until he ate one slice of pizza. He balked at that idea -- yes, he’s stubborn -- and crawled under his chair to get away from the pizza. So, the cake came home with us -- uneaten.
When we arrived home, he was in a better mood, especially when he was allowed to open presents. I had purchased a few items for him in Germany that I intended to bring with us, but I hid them so well that I forgot to pack them. Oops. So, I had to make an extra shopping trip for a few items, and fortunately found some that were perfectly-suited for him. Guess that means I’ve got a jump on his Christmas presents!
After he ate something “healthy” (fruit) for supper, MacKenzie lit the candles on his other birthday cake and we sang to him again. This time, he didn’t hide under any chairs, and opted to eat the cake after blowing out the candles. Since we had two cakes to choose from, everyone got what they wanted -- chocolate or vanilla. What a great day for a wonderful boy!Labels: Benjamin, Birthdays, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Farm Fun
When we head to Blackshear, it’s usually the only time each year I get to catch up with my larger family. It rejuvenates me to be there on the farm and take things slow. Hats off to my Aunt Gail, who made a huge batch of boiled peanuts and delivered them less than an hour before we arrived. There’s nothing better than boiled peanuts so warm you have to roll them in your hands to cool them off before cracking them open! Even after being dog-tired after 19 hours of travel (door-to-door), I had to partake of the southern delicacy! Zachary and MacKenzie even jumped right in, vying for their own picks out of the bowl. Benjamin doesn’t care for them (yet), but we didn’t mind...that left more for us!The next day, we were coherent enough to begin catching up with everyone. Here’s MacKenzie with my niece Rachel. My how she’s grown since I saw her last year!
Papa enjoyed playing “horsie” with Benjamin and Rachel. They had so much fun that they wore out the horsie and he had to call it quits. But, isn’t that what grandfathers are for?
Rachel was indoctrinated to the tradition of taking a bath in Granny’s large kitchen sink -- and absolutely loved it! I actually remember taking a bath there many, many years ago. Makes me wonder how old I was when I outgrew the sink!
Quincy drove out to see everyone one day, and Benjamin and MacKenzie took right to her.
Benjamin loved sitting down at the piano and pounding out a few “tunes.” Good thing he was in the living room so we could put a little distance between us and the music and allow him some time to enjoy his own personal melodies.Zachary took the Red Cross Babysitters Course last month, and is now certified in Child & Infant CPR. He asked me before we headed to Georgia if he could babysit Ava and Olivia while we were there. I didn’t think he’d have an opportunity to do so officially, but he definitely took any opportunity he cound find to hold them. Ava enjoyed looking for the dog through the windows with him.
Zachary also beamed at the chance to give Olivia a bottle. Both girls warmed up to him without any fuss. He does seem to have a way with little kids.
Uncle Sam got a kick out of Ava’s persistent begging for his cake. Being the proud and accommodating grandfather that he is, he couldn’t resist her pleas. Hannah wasn’t pleased with his accommodating style, and after about a half dozen extra bites, he reluctantly quit.
Mom, Hannah and Ava took a rest at the end of the evening. I think Hannah and Mom look a lot alike...almost like Hannah could be her daughter instead of her niece!
I couldn’t help including these mother-daughter photos. Lealane and Olivia above, and Hannah and Ava to the left.
Cassie drove down from near Atlanta the night before we left so we were able to see her for a few minutes. MacKenzie was excited to see her, even at that late hour.Before we knew it, our visit came to an end. It seemed to fly by too quickly this year. Here’s our annual photo of Nana waking down the dirt road with the kids. It really is nice out there among the pine trees, corn fields, split-rail fence and peaceful quietness. It definitely rejuvenates my spirit.
Labels: Benjamin, MacKenzie, Nana and Papa, Stateside visits, Zachary
